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EU ANIMAL WELFARE ACTION PLAN

: : About the issue

The Community Action Plan on the Protection and Welfare of Animals is the first EU long term strategy to improve the protection of animals. It sets out a timetable for new legislation and includes other mechanism that will promote animal welfare over the period 2006-2010. It helps to ensure that on EU level animal protection is integrated in other policy areas such as research, farming, consumer information and wildlife protection.

: : What is the current situation?

The Community now needs to implement the Action Plan and follow its ambitious timetable of activities. With its conclusion on the Action Plan adopted in June 2006, the Council of Ministers (EU Member States) has endorsed the Action Plan and its objectives. The European Parliament report on the Action Plan regards improved animal protection as "a permanent obligation of the Community".

: : What is Eurogroup's position?

Eurogroup has welcomed the action plan as it raises the awareness of animal protection in the EU and abroad and provides for coherence in future Community initiatives on animal protection or related policies.

However Eurogroup feels that some important issues have not been addressed in the Action plan:

	More funding should be made available under the EU Common Agriculture policy to change to a more sustainable anima welfare friendly livestock production.
	Animal welfare considerations should be included the EU trade policy, in WTO discussions and bilateral agreements.
	Legislation on fish farming needs to be introduced.
	Legislation on breeding of animals is necessary to counter the negative health and welfare effects of present breeding programmes aimed primarily at increasing profit.
	A higher priority needs to be put on enforcement.
	An early review of live animal transport regulations, including proposal on limiting journey times should be done.
	A procedure for monitoring the action plan, the delivery of its objectives and its effectiveness needs to be put in place.
	More resources needs to be made available in the Commission to allow for the implementation of the plan.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

European Union

Community Action Plan
(Jan. 06)

Annexes to the Action Plan:
Commission Working Document
Impact assessment

Presidency conclusions
(Jun. 06)

European Parliament Report (Oct. 06)

Eurogroup documents

Statement on the Animal Welfare Centre (Mar. 06)

Parliamentary Brief (May 06)